Ophthalmic Virtual Visit Utilization and Patient Satisfaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background:Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in synchronous ophthalmic telehealth visits. The purpose of this study is to analyze the utilization and patient satisfaction of synchronous ophthalmic video visits over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods:In this retrospective, single-center cross-sectional study, 1,756 patients seen through synchronous video visits between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, were identified using billing codes. E-mails containing a validated, 11-item, telehealth satisfaction scale were sent to patients who had at least one video visit within the study period. Questions were scored on a 1-4 scale, corresponding to poor, fair, good, and excellent. Main outcome measures included patient satisfaction scores, frequency of repeat video visits, and primary visit diagnoses.Results:The top 3 subspecialties by virtual visit volume were oculoplastic surgery (999 visits, 42.9%), neuro-ophthalmology (331 visits, 17.0%), and cornea (254 visits, 14.2%). The top 3 diagnoses seen were chalazion/hordeolum, dry eye, and meibomian gland dysfunction. The overall survey response rate was 14.3% (252 participants). The mean patient satisfaction score was 3.67 ± 0.63, with no significant difference in scores between specialties. A total of 380 (21%) patients had repeat virtual visits. Mean survey response scores were significantly higher for patients with repeat visits than those without (3.82 ± 0.42 vs. 3.62 ± 0.68, p = 0.03). Patients undergoing oculoplastic services were more likely to have repeat visits (odds ratio 2.58, 95% confidence interval 2.18-3.06, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis found that provider thoroughness/skillfulness was the most predictive feature of the patient returning to a telehealth encounter (p = 0.01).Conclusions:Our study suggests that synchronous videoconferencing for ophthalmology is a highly satisfactory delivery method and will likely find continued success in select subspecialties as the pandemic fades.

Telemedicine Use by Oculoplastic Surgeons During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Telemedicine use expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, including to surgical fields that had limited prior adoption of telehealth such as oculoplastic surgery. To assess telemedicine usage patterns, barriers to implementation, and satisfaction with telemedicine, we conducted a survey among members of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). Methods: We performed a Web-based, anonymous survey of ASOPRS members from November to December 2020. Statistical analyses were performed by using Fisher's exact and Chi-squared tests. Results: We received 196 unique survey responses from 963 invited participants (20.5% response rate). Among the 192 ASOPRS members who participated, the majority (79%) reported currently using telemedicine. Very few of those currently using telemedicine (14%) had used telemedicine before March 15, 2020 and a significant proportion (36%) were unsure or did not plan to use telemedicine post-pandemic. Telemedicine use was more common among participants with fewer years in practice (p < 0.01) and those who were university- versus self-employed (p < 0.01). The most common barriers to telemedicine use were technological issues, reimbursement concerns, and a perceived lack of patient acceptance. Nearly half of the surgeons reported being satisfied with telemedicine (48%), and the majority reported perceived patient satisfaction with telemedicine (74%). Discussion: Telemedicine adoption increased significantly among oculoplastic surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many current users reported that they were unsure or did not plan to use telemedicine post-pandemic. Conclusions: Further research is needed to design sustainable telemedicine programs to enhance patient access to oculoplastic specialty care in the long term.

Lacrimal tissue resection in Fasanella Servat operation and the correlation to dry eye.

Purpose: Fasanella-Servat operation (FSO) was previously reported to be associated with post-operative dry eyes due to accessory lacrimal gland resection during the surgery.We performed a retrospective, cohort study to determine the frequency of lacrimal tissue resection during FSO and its correlation with post-operative eye dryness and keratopathy.Methods: Review of all patients who underwent FSO at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital over a two-year period (2013-2015). Patients were included only if they had adequate histopathological specimens of the resected tissue obtained during surgery. Outcomes included the study of the pathological specimen for the presence of lacrimal tissue; Post-operative dry eye symptoms and pre- and post-operative corneal epitheliopathy.Results: 46 patients with a total of 58 eyelid resections were studied.Eight eyelids (13.7%) were found to have lacrimal tissue present in the pathology specimens.Postoperatively, nine patients reported some symptoms of dry eye and new-onset keratopathy was noted in four eyes (6.8%), only one of which had lacrimal tissue present in histopathology specimen obtained from surgery.Discussion: Previous studies found lacrimal tissue present in up to 43% of specimens resected during FSO. Our data found a lower rate of lacrimal tissue resection during FSO, and did not find an association between lacrimal tissue resection and post-operative dryness or epitheliopathy.Conclusion: Our study is one of few to examine histopathological resections from the FSO.We found that lacrimal tissue is not frequently resected during FSO, and when it is resected, there is no increased incidence of post-operative dryness or keratopathy.

Morbihan Disease Treatment: Two Case Reports and a Systematic Literature Review.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of treatments for Morbihan disease. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review of the literature was performed on April 1, 2018, using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Excerpta Medica dataBASE with terms used to describe Morbihan disease, including "Morbihan Disease," "Morbihan Syndrome," "lymphedema rosacea," and "lymphedematous rosacea". Case reports or case series were included if they fulfilled the following criteria: published in English, peer-reviewed, and reported Morbihan disease. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients-87 patients from 49 articles and 2 cases from the authors' institution-were included in the final analysis. The median age of patients was 51 years (range: 14-79), and 66 of 89 (74%) patients were men. Male gender correlated with lack of complete response to treatment (odds ratio: 0.25; 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.97; p = 0.02), while presence of papules or pustules correlated with complete response to treatment (odds ratio: 4.07; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-17.68; p = 0.03). Longer antibiotic duration correlated with response to treatment (p = 0.03), favoring complete over partial response (p = 0.02). Mean antibiotic duration in patients who responded was 4.43 months (standard deviation: 3.49), with complete responders requiring 6.50 months (standard deviation: 4.57). Oral corticosteroids, isotretinoins, and combination therapies did not correlate with treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of papules and pustules correlates with a complete response to treatment, while male gender correlates with a partial response. Patients may benefit from 4- to 6-month duration of tetracycline-based antibiotics. Prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of antibiotic and isotretinoin dose and duration on treatment response.

Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) Versus Standard of Care for Postsurgical Lagophthalmos and Exposure Keratopathy: Trends in Visual Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To compare baseline characteristics and visual acuity outcomes in patients treated with prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) versus other standard-of-care (SOC) treatments for postsurgical lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy. METHODS: An institutional review board-approved, retrospective cohort study of 45 consecutive patients (53 eyes) with postsurgical lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy following oculoplastic or skull base surgeries treated between August 2011 and August 2017 was performed. Patients treated with PROSE (22 patients, 27 eyes) were identified by referrals made to the PROSE treatment program at Weill Cornell Medical College. Patients treated with SOC treatments (23 patients, 26 eyes) were identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 and International Classification of Diseases-10 search of billing records. SOC treatments included ocular surface lubrication (artificial tears and/or punctal plugs), tape tarsorrhaphy and/or moisture chamber, or surgical correction. The primary outcome measure was best-corrected visual acuity converted to logMAR at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcome measures were subjective patient reports of improvement in vision and comfort, as well as presence of punctate epithelial erosions and/or corneal haze on slit-lamp examination before and after treatment. RESULTS: Average age for all patients was 52 ± 22 years (range: 7-87). Twenty-eight (62%) of total patients were male. Baseline corrected logMAR visual acuity was 0.58 ± 0.40 (20/76) for PROSE and 0.27 ± 0.39 (20/37) for SOC cohorts (p < 0.001). Mean number of failed prior treatments was 8.3 ± 3 for PROSE and 2.1 ± 2 for SOC (p < 0.0001). Mean difference in logMAR visual acuity for PROSE versus SOC, respectively, from baseline to 1 month was 0.33 ± 0.26 (3-line improvement) versus 0.01 ± 0.17 (no line improvement; p < 0.0001), to 3 months was 0.31 ± 0.23 (3-line improvement) versus 0.08 ± 0.30 (4-letter improvement; p = 0.0004), to 6 months was 0.31 ± 0.28 (3-line improvement) versus 0.10 ± 0.36 (1-line improvement; p = 0.02), and to 12 months was 0.32 ± 0.28 (3-line improvement) versus 0.12 ± 0.34 (1-line improvement; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with postsurgical lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy treated with PROSE are more likely to have failed a higher number of treatments and have worse initial best-corrected visual acuities than those treated with SOC. Prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem causes rapid and substantial visual improvement within 1 month of use compared with SOC, with little change beyond this time and sustained best-corrected visual acuity at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment.

Does long-term success from endoscopic DCR correlate with early post-operative reduction in tearing?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the association between early post-operative improvement in tearing and the long-term success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR). METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent eDCR and were followed up for at least 6 months at our institution from January 2010 to December 2017 was performed. RESULTS: 47 cases(39 patients) of eDCR met the inclusion and exclusion criteria during this time period. Mean follow up after the surgery was 12.5 ±â€¯8 months. In 45 out of 47 (96%) cases post-operative improvement in epiphora within 2 weeks of surgery, or lack thereof, correlated with long-term success or failure of the procedure. There were only 2 cases in which the patients felt improvement in tearing at the initial post-operative visit and the tearing recurred in the late post-operative period (>6 months). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between the early initial post-operative assessment of tearing resolution and the long-term result of eDCR.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy following radioactive iodine thyroid ablation.

This article evaluates the efficacy of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR) for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in patients exposed to radioactive iodine (RAI) for treatment of thyroid carcinoma. Retrospective chart review of 7 eDCR procedures was performed on 6 patients, aged 18 or older, with prior RAI treatment, who underwent eDCR between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013 for treatment of epiphora due to NLDO. Average time to tube removal was 159 days, and average follow-up was 341 days. One patient noted complete epiphora relief at the time of their final visit. Partial symptom relief was noted by 3 patients, and recurrent epiphora was noted by 2 patients. In complex patients with RAI-associated NLDO, eDCR may be a reasonable option for relief of epiphora. Appropriate counseling, including the risks of incomplete symptom relief and need for additional surgery, should be discussed pre-operatively with these patients.

Proprioceptive Phenomenon With Involutional Ptosis: Evidential Findings in Anophthalmic Ptosis.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of ptosis on compensatory frontalis contraction in patients without visual input and to identify if a sensory stimulus contributes to brow elevation. METHODS: A prospective study. Clinical photographs were measured by 2 masked oculoplastic surgeons to determine brow height in 8 patients with unilateral ocular prosthesis in 3 conditions: at baseline, after a gold weight was applied to the upper eyelid inducing acute ptosis, and with the gold weight plus topical anesthetic. The measured brow height was then compared between the 3 scenarios. RESULTS: Mean brow height increased after application of the gold weight when compared with baseline, and this difference reached significance (p = 0.012). After topical anesthetic was applied, the mean brow height decreased but not back to baseline. When mean brow height during the gold weight with topical anesthesia was compared with baseline and with the gold weight only scenarios, the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Frontalis contraction is observed when acute ptosis is simulated in anophthalmic patients, confirming that a contracted visual field cannot be the only stimulus for compensatory brow elevation. A sensory or proprioceptive mechanism is suggested but not confirmed by the trend of reduction in brow elevation with topical anesthesia.

The Effect of Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty on Margin Reflex Distance 2.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of lower eyelid transconjunctival blepharoplasty (TCB) on lower eyelid position. METHODS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty was performed alone in 15 lower eyelids without simultaneous canthoplasty or upper eyelid procedure. In this study, blepharoplasty was performed by the transconjunctival approach without removal of skin. Four eyes received TCB plus Erbium laser, two patients received TCB plus trichloroacetic acid peel (TCA), and three patients received TCB plus fat transposition. Pre-operative and post-operative margin reflex distance 1 (MRD 1) and margin reflex distance 2 (MRD 2) were compared, with MRD 1 acting as the control. RESULTS: Average time to post-operative photo was 4.6 months (1-10 months). The changes in MRD 2 and MRD 1 were compared pre- and post-operatively, and the difference reached significance by one-tailed comparison (P < 0.05). In 11/15 eyes (73 %), MRD 2 decreased post-operatively. In 6/7 eyes (86 %), lower lid scleral show was eliminated post-operatively. There were no cases of lid retraction noted. CONCLUSIONS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty (± skin resurfacing) did not induce lid retraction but elevated the lower lid in majority of patients. Elevation of the lower lid can reduce or eliminate scleral show inferiorly, providing further cosmetic advantage. The presumed mechanism of lower lid height elevation is partial recession of the lower lid retractors during the surgical approach to the fat pockets. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that the authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Three-dimensional volumetric assessment of the nasolacrimal duct in patients with obstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference exists in the nasolacrimal duct volume of subjects with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction compared with that of controls. METHODS: This was a retrospective, case-control study of 70 subjects with prior maxillofacial CT scans, including 35 subjects with obstruction and 35 controls. Volume measurements of the nasolacrimal duct were made on a GE Advantage Workstation using volume viewer software, and measurements were compared using an unpaired Student t test. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities were calculated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the nasolacrimal duct volume of patients (0.411 ± 0.18 cm) compared with that of controls (0.380 ± 0.13 cm(3)) (p = 0.23). Women had smaller volume ducts (0.356 ± 0.11 cm(3)) than that of men (0.482 ± 0.19 cm(3)) (p < 0.001). Male patients had smaller volume ducts (0.470 ± 0.23 cm(3)) than that of male controls (0.493 ± 0.14 cm(3)) (p = 0.70), while female patients (0.384 ± 0.13 cm(3)) had significantly larger volume ducts than that of female controls (0.328 ± 0.08 cm(3)) (p = 0.01). There was excellent interrater and intrarater reliabilities. CONCLUSIONS: CT 3-dimensional volumetric software can be used to accurately measure the nasolacrimal duct volume in patients with obstruction. Both the absence of a significant difference in patient's and control's nasolacrimal duct volumes and the overlap in range between the 2 groups imply that the volume of the tear duct is likely not related to the etiology of obstruction. The increase in volume seen in females with obstruction may be due to expansion of the bony canal during the postmenopausal years. The exact etiology of primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction requires further investigation.

Bilateral lacrimal gland disease: clinical features of 97 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Bilateral lacrimal gland (LG) disease is a unique presentation that can result from varied causes. We reviewed the diagnoses, clinical features, and outcomes of 97 patients with this entity. DESIGN: Case series. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven patients with bilateral LG disease. METHODS: Retrospective review and statistical analysis using analysis of variance and the Fisher exact test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics, clinical features, diagnostic testing, diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: Patient age ranging from 8 to 84 years (mean, 46 years). The predominant gender was female (77%), and race included black (49%), white (38%), and Hispanic (12%) patients. Diagnoses fell into 4 categories: inflammatory (n = 51; 53%), structural (n = 20; 21%), lymphoproliferative (n = 19; 20%), and uncommon (n = 7; 7%) entities. The most common diagnoses included idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI; n = 29; 30%), sarcoidosis (n = 19; 20%), prolapsed LG (n = 15; 15%), lymphoma (n = 11; 11%), lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 8; 8%), and dacryops (n = 5; 5%). Inflammatory conditions were more likely in younger patients (P<0.05) and in those with pain (P<0.001) and mechanical blepharoptosis (P<0.01) at presentation, whereas lymphoma was more common in older patients (P<0.001) without active signs of inflammation at presentation. Black patients were more likely to have sarcoidosis (P<0.01). Laboratory results showed high angiotensin converting enzyme level being significantly more likely in patients with sarcoidosis (P<0.05). However, sensitivity was limited to 45%, with 25% of patients diagnosed with IOI also demonstrating positive results. Corticosteroid therapy was the treatment of choice in 38 cases, corresponding to resolution of symptoms in 29% and improvement in an additional 32%. Overall, chronic underlying disease was found in 71% of patients, among whom 26% achieved a disease-free state, whereas 3% succumbed to their underlying disease. CONCLUSIONS: The cause of bilateral lacrimal gland disease most commonly was inflammatory, followed by structural and lymphoproliferative. Patient characteristics and clinical presentations were key features distinguishing between competing possibilities. Despite local control with corticosteroids or radiotherapy, underlying disease continued in 71% of patients and led to death in 3%.

Magnetic systems for tarsorrhaphy.

PURPOSE: Paralytic lagophthalmos can cause exposure keratopathy. Current treatments have difficulties: extrusion, migration, allergic reaction, anatomical disruption, and technically difficult surgeries. The goal of this study was to design, create, and assess a new method for eyelid closure using magnets. METHODS: This experimental study is approved by institutional review board. Creation of eyelid model and magnet systems: A model of the eyelid and eyeball was constructed to determine the necessary magnetic strength. Neodymium magnets were cast in silicone mold carriers. Assessment of temporary magnet systems in humans: 1) a magnet was affixed to the upper and lower eyelids, and 2) a magnet was affixed to the upper eyelid and another to eyeglasses. Parameters evaluated were eyelid positions and success of eyelid closure in healthy adult volunteers. RESULTS: Magnetic force required to create the average eyelid opening force was calculated from the eyelid model to be equivalent to 4 magnets. The magnet system affixed to upper and lower eyelids resulted in complete eyelid closure in 5 of 5 normal controls, while the magnet system affixed to the upper eyelid and to spectacles resulted in complete eyelid closure in 10 of 13 normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic systems for eyelid closure were designed that used either magnets affixed to both upper and lower eyelids or an upper eyelid magnetic component combined with a magnetic element in the lower rim of spectacles. Both were effective in eyelid closure in a model eye and normal controls. These systems may ultimately provide a simplified, safer, and less invasive method to treat paralytic lagophthalmos.

Incidence of Blepharoptosis Following Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of blepharoptosis after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections and compare the rates of blepharoptosis between patients injected with an eyelid speculum and those injected without a speculum. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes were used to identify patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and those who developed ptosis after intravitreal injections. Patients with nonexudative AMD who did not receive intravitreal injections served as controls. The outcomes were the incidence of ptosis in the injection group compared to the noninjection group and incidence of ptosis in patients whose injections were performed with an eyelid speculum as compared to those whose injections were performed without a speculum. RESULTS: We recruited 1100 exudative AMD patients who received at least 1 intravitreal anti-VEGF injection and 2258 nonexudative AMD patients who had not received an injection. In the injection group, 18 of 1100 patients (1.6%) developed ptosis, compared with 52 of 2258 patients (2.3%) in the noninjection group (P = .25). Within the injection group, ptosis was mostly bilateral, diagnosed on average 22.4 months after the initial injection, and after more than a 1-year injection-free period. Eleven of 537 patients (2.0%) injected without a speculum developed ptosis, compared with 8 of 444 patients (1.8%) injected with a speculum (P = .82). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant differences in incidence rates of ptosis were observed. In this analysis, neither intravitreal anti-VEGF injections nor speculum use during injections appears to increase the risk of ptosis.

Predictors of Ophthalmology Resident Performance From Medical Student Application Materials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether elements in ophthalmology residency applications are predictors of future resident performance. DESIGN: This multi-institutional, cross-sectional, observational study retrospectively reviewed the residency application materials of ophthalmology residents who graduated from residency from 2006 through 2018. Resident performance was scored by 2 faculty reviewers in 4 domains (clinical, surgical, academic, and global performance). Correlation between specific elements of the residency application and resident performance was assessed by Spearman correlation coefficients (univariate) and linear regression (multivariate) for continuous variables and logistic regression (multivariate) for categorical variables. SETTING: Seven ophthalmology residency programs in the US. PARTICIPANTS: Ophthalmology residents who graduated from their residency program. RESULTS: High-performing residents were a diverse group, in terms of sex, ethnicity, visa status, and educational background. Residents with United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores higher than the national average for that year had significantly higher scores in all 4 performance domains than those who scored at or below the mean (all domains P < 0.05). Residents who had honors in at least 4 core clerkships and who were members of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society also had higher scores in all 4 performance domains (all domains P ≤ 0.04). Step 1 score (ρ=0.26, P < 0.001) and the difference between Step 1 score and the national average for that year (ρ=0.19, P = 0.009) positively correlated with total resident performance scores. Residents who passed the American Board of Ophthalmology Written Qualifying Examination or Oral Examination on their first attempt had significantly higher Step 1/2 scores (P ≤ 0.005), Ophthalmology Knowledge Assessment Program scores (P = 0.001), and resident performance scores (P ≤ 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this new landscape of increasing numbers of applicants to residency programs and changing of the Step 1 score to pass/fail, our findings may help guide selection committees as they holistically review applicants to select exceptional future residents in ophthalmology.

Current considerations in the management of facial nerve palsy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Facial nerve palsy is a potentially devastating condition that can arise from many different causes. Appropriate management is complicated by the wide spectrum of clinical presentation and disease severity that characterizes this condition. As such, recent studies have focused on augmenting our understanding of the underlying anatomy and pathophysiology of facial nerve palsy, while also exploring different treatment options. RECENT FINDINGS: There have been a multitude of radiologic investigations that have delineated anatomical considerations pertinent to facial neuropathy, whereas various grading schemes and software programs have been developed to facilitate the clinical assessment of patients. Furthermore, a wide variety of medical and surgical treatment options have been proposed - whereas some are variants of previously described methods, others represent novel approaches. SUMMARY: Appropriate management of facial nerve palsy is dependent on a multitude of factors and must be tailored to patients on an individual basis. The studies summarized in this article highlight the recent advancements geared toward refining the assessment and treatment of patients with facial neuropathy.

Histopathologic changes in punctal stenosis.

PURPOSE: To describe the pathologic changes in punctal stenosis by reporting the histopathologic findings in a series of punctoplasty specimens. METHODS: Observational retrospective chart review. Electronic health records of all patients having punctoplasty over a 2-year period at an academic oculoplastic practice were examined. All patients whose records included pathology reports were entered into a database. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients, representing 30 eyes, had pathology records in the electronic health records. Patients were 75% women and had an average age of 65 (19-88) years. Associated conditions included blepharitis (71%), dry eye syndrome, or Meibomian gland dysfunction (63%). Histopathologic examination demonstrated chronic inflammation in 11 eyes (36.7%), fibrosis in 7 eyes (23.3%), chronic inflammation and fibrosis in 4 eyes (13.3%), squamous metaplasia in 3 eyes (10%), normal conjunctival mucosa in 3 eyes (10%), and Actinomyces israelii canaliculitis in 2 eyes (6.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all histopathologic specimens revealed findings consistent with inflammation, fibrosis, or both. These findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that the many etiologic causes of punctal stenosis are linked by a common pathophysiologic mechanism involving inflammation.

Lacrimal system endoscopy assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential benefit of intra-operative lacrimal system endoscopy during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. METHODS: Eight patients (10 cases) underwent lacrimal system endoscopy assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy for nasolacrimal duct obstruction between May 2010 and July 2012 at the New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College. All patients were subsequently followed post-operatively for at least 6 months. Primary outcome measures included post-operative epiphora and infection. RESULTS: Lacrimal system endoscopy assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy was successful in identifying the level of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in all 10 cases. Endoscopy revealed obstruction at the valve of Hasner in 2 cases, while the remaining cases involved obstruction at more proximal locations within the nasolacrimal duct. The location of the rhinostomy created during dacryocystorhinostomy was tailored to the specific level of obstruction. No intra-operative complications were encountered. The majority of patients (6 of 8) experienced complete resolution of epiphora within 1 month of surgery, with all patients achieving resolution by 6 months. None of the patients in the study exhibited any signs of post-operative dacryocystitis. CONCLUSION: The evaluation and management of nasolacrimal duct obstruction may be greatly enhanced through the use of intra-operative lacrimal system endoscopy by specifically localizing and identifying the underlying cause of obstruction, while maintaining the excellent success rate of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

Allergic fungal sinusitis causing nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic fungal sinusitis is thought to represent a chronic autoimmune reaction directed against fungal elements within the sinuses, and is commonly seen in individuals with a history of chronic sinusitis that is refractory to medical therapy. The authors present a case of allergic fungal sinusitis involving the lacrimal drainage system. CASE: A 54-year-old woman initially presented with recurrent erythema and induration of the left nasolacrimal sac due to dacryocystitis, which was unresponsive to treatment with topical and systemic antibiotics. Radiological evaluation demonstrated the presence of multiple soft tissue masses along the medial canthi. During subsequent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, significant amounts of allergic mucin were found within the sinuses and marked eosinophilia was present within tissue obtained from the lacrimal sac, findings highly suggestive of allergic fungal sinusitis. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of allergic fungal sinusitis should be considered in patients presenting with epiphora in the appropriate clinical context. However, involvement of the lacrimal drainage system is an exceedingly unusual presentation.